A Slave's Way Out

By C.A. Salo

They came from different parts of the universe: Catrin Munroe, a navy fighter pilot, gifted with visions and on the run from the alien race that abducted her; and Niko Arrian, a lord of Neris and mercenary warship captain, accustomed to women fawning over him and men cowering from a single cold glare. When a vision guides Catrin to Niko, they find their lives filled with a passion neither of them ever expected. Will Catrin learn to submit to Niko’s dominant ways, and will Niko discover the sweet art of seduction and clever manner of compromise?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Torrid Books
• Release date: Sep 1, 2007
• ISBN: 9781603130516

Book preview

Chapter 1

Catrin worked her way through the crowded bar. Using the mirrors lining the walls, she glanced behind her to see the guards enter where she had just come from and her heartbeat quickened as they spotted her. She had to find a way out. If only she could get to the other side, she thought as she pushed past a couple kissing passionately. She snorted softly but continued to walk briskly; she knew that was nothing new. The people of this planet lived and breathed a BDSM lifestyle, with men the dominant sex. So if a ‘Master’ wanted to do something, he did it. She’d seen a lot of things since being plunged into this part of the universe, so nothing shocked her anymore.

The bar was full tonight, lots of different races, from humanoids to those looking something straight out of Star Wars, intermingling and drinking. The bar was in the shipping bay quadrant, where every race came to sell merchandise or goods, trade or buy or to just sit and drink while their starship was refueled. It was a place where one could get lost, and that had been what she was hoping for.

Glancing to the right she saw a game of Potash going on. It was a gambling nightmare, but these aliens loved it, especially if they won. The loser, however, was indentured for a year of their life to whatever the winner chose, be it house slave or sex slave. As she moved past another couple, the lights dimmed, and her foot caught on something and sent her falling into the person in front of her. Sorry, she mumbled, her gaze still intent on the escape path as she righted herself. She was almost to the door when she heard the guards call for her to stop and two more guards entered the door she’d been heading toward.

Oh shit. She hesitated briefly, quickly scanning the interior. There wasn’t another way out.

Glancing over she met the green eyes of a man sitting with several men at a table close to the door. Her lips parted on a gasp as a vision overtook her. Her brain went numb with a sudden flashing image of him smiling at her…naked. Christ, she mumbled as she headed right over to him. He was not the man she would have chosen for this. He didn’t look the type to let her control the situation or to give her his help and then allow her to run like hell, but she had learned to trust her visions. At least he had one hell of a body, muscled out with what looked like waist-length black hair, pulled back on top with braids hanging on either side of his rough masculine face.

Catrin made it to the man and kneeled at his feet just as one of the guards touched her shoulder. Forgive me, Master, I could not find what you requested, she said breathlessly, hoping like hell he’d just go along with her and not want too much for repayment in the process—namely her. But then again, she did just have a vision of him naked, and past occurrences have shown her that her visions always came true. With a mental sigh, she knelt there quietly, waiting to see what he would do.

Niko arched a brow as she glanced up at him under lowered lashes. Why not? he growled, figuring he’d play along and see where this led.

She belongs to you? the guard asked as his grip tightened on her shoulder.

Niko gave her a feral grin. Apparently.

What the hell are you doing? Daniel barked over their internal communication units, staring at Niko from across the table.

Getting myself a free slave.

Do you think that’s a good idea?

She started it.

Well, what the hell, a free slave, why not? he asked with laughter.

My thoughts exactly, Niko replied as his grin grew.

Niko and Daniel watched the woman narrow her eyes with a glaring look of intent. Ooh, look at that, she has attitude. Daniel chuckled.

Sir, the guard gritted out with agitation as he squeezed her shoulder with more force.

Niko watched the woman wince slightly from the guard’s pressure and lifted his gaze to the man. Niko used that same low tone as he had with the woman kneeling by his feet. Remove your hands from her.

She doesn’t have a collar on, the guard replied as he removed his hand and took a step back.

We’re not from here. Taking hold of her arms, Niko lifted the woman to sit on his lap with her back facing the guard, liking the way her short skirt slid up toned thighs.

Then follow our rules, unless you want her claimed by another.

Niko’s brow lifted at the tone in his voice. Do you perceive to order me?

No, no, Lord Arrian, he does not. Lar, Grand Marshal of the Hasian Republic, rushed to them.

Catrin tilted her head slightly watching as the guard’s eyes went wide from the grand marshal’s mere mention of this man’s name. Lowering her own eyes, she wondered why the two men would fear him so much, especially the grand marshal. True, the man was a simpering idiot, but he also held a position of power and didn’t rush to soothe anyone but the chancellor. Why was this rough man with the green eyes so different? Tilting her head a bit more, she kept her eyes lowered as she listened in on their conversation.

* * * *

It’s just that slaves are collared here so there are no misunderstandings, my lord, Lar gushed.

Niko listened half-heartedly to the grand marshal blabber on and on, moving his fingers over the woman’s thigh in a caress. He like the feel and shape of her warm skin, and would soon be getting some straight answers as to why she was running from the Hasian guards.

House slaves are different from sex slaves and so forth. What collar will you need for yours while you are here? Lar finished quickly, his large cheeks flushed.

Niko watched as her eyes zoomed right to his and smiled as he announced, Why, sex slave, of course. He listened to Daniel’s mental laughter at the angry look on his new slave’s face. Isn’t that right, slave? he asked as he moved his hand up to cup her breast. His body reacted to the feel of hers as his cock stirred.

Yes, Master, Catrin replied softly as she shot daggers at him.

Remind me to punish you for not finding what I sent you out for.

Catrin’s jaw was so tense she thought it would crack. Yes, Master, she answered through clenched teeth, glad her back was to the Hasian guards or else they’d know not only she was lying through her teeth, but the man was as well.

Niko squeezed her breast as his thumb made a pass over her nipple, coming back to tease the tight peak when he felt its erection. Her nostrils flared, with either anger or pain he wasn’t sure, seeing how her jaw had already been clenched so tightly. But her body heat wasn’t cooling, so she was obviously enjoying his attentions. Whoever she was, she hadn’t been trained properly as a sexual submissive, that much was for sure. And he knew by looking at her that there was no way in hell she was a house slave, especially if she was from Hasian.

Niko growled as he shifted slightly, watching the widening of her eyes as she became aware of his upstanding predicament.

But you have to admit, my lord, she does resemble the escaped Earthling the Ligers are looking for, Lar replied shakily.

Niko moved his eyes back to the marshal. The what? he asked, watching as the guard handed him a hand-manifesto. Removing his hand from her breast, Niko palmed the small computer, touching the screen with his thumb and watched as her image and personal information appeared. Why do they want her back so much, besides the fact that she escaped from them?

She’s said to have some special gift and they want to harness it, the guard replied.

Those are the only kind of Earthlings the Ligers take. Niko gave the guard a sarcastic smile as he glanced over at his first-in-command, watching as Daniel’s grin grew, his own thoughts along the same line about how they were a dumb, boring bunch here.

She’s scared, Daniel commed.

I know, her heart’s pounding and her adrenaline levels are up, Niko replied.

And yet she’s sitting there looking entirely calm… Hmmm, makes you wonder what she did on Earth, doesn’t it?

Niko glanced up at his new playmate and saw her eyes moving slowly as though taking note of every detail and planning for an escape, but she did it with such calm he could almost believe she was one of his people. He looked back as Lar and the guard finished their ramblings.

That’s why they grabbed her in the first place, the guard finished, flustered as he looked over at Niko when he realized he had just said the same thing as an Arius.

And then she escaped, Niko said out loud. Interesting. He glanced down at her name and stats on the handheld computer, and smiled as he lifted his eyes, waiting until Miss Catrin Munro moved her gaze to his. They were the most intense blue he’d ever seen. Wouldn’t you say, my little submissive?

Catrin held her tongue on that one. Yes, Master, she replied softly.

Niko smiled as he kept her gaze. She had to be quite the little Earthling to have evaded the Ligers’ clutches for over a year.

I want to see if she has the Liger mark, the guard sputtered, nervously moving his eyes from one mercenary to the other.

Niko moved his gaze to the guard and narrowed